So here was Mats Zuccarello, talking about Tim Erixon on Saturday morning after his roommate with the AHL Whale had been recalled to join him on the Rangers for last night’s match at Madison Square Garden against the Avalanche.

“I’ve learned him everything he knows,” the 23-year-old Norwegian second-year North American pro said of the 21-year-old Swedish defenseman who in his first season in North America. “It’s kind of like we are in a new environment here where the play is different than what we grew up with.

“You have to be more feisty and more aggressive. I’ve had to yell at him a lot.”

Zuccarello, who scored the Rangers’ only goal in the 3-1 defeat in what was his fourth game following his recall from the AHL, was laughing as he said that about his relationship with Erixon, who had played the first nine games of the season and then four more during Christmas week with the Rangers.

Erixon, who had recorded 33 points (three goals, 30 assists) in 43 games with the Whale, was inserted into the lineup in place of healthy scratch Anton Stralman.

“He hasn’t been playing well,” coach John Tortorella said of Stralman, who was also a healthy scratch for the March 6 match against the Devils.

Michael Del Zotto returned from a four-game absence (hip) to play 25:20 while Steve Eminger was sidelined with an undisclosed injury he sustained in Thursday night’s 5-2 defeat to the Penguins during which Stralman made an awful rush lead that allowed Matt Cooke to score the 3-1 goal at 2:31 of the second.

Tortorella said he intends to give a shot to Erixon, who played 9:57 paired primarily at even strength with Stu Bickel. That included two shifts for 2:03 in the first 8:41 of the third, after which Tortorella cut down to four defensemen.

“We are going to give him a look,” the coach said. “He looks a little stronger. He makes a good pass to [Derek Stepan], a really patient play.

“That’s what we are hoping to get out of him — someone who can get us out of our end zone and add something to our second power play. There is some work to be done as far as him understanding our concept but hopefully he can step up here and give us some minutes.”

The Erixon and Zuccarello promotions account for two of the four recalls from the AHL the Rangers are permitted to make until the Whale’s elimination from the playoffs.

If the Blueshirts should sign Boston College winger Chris Kreider at the conclusion of the Eagles’ season, that would not be counted as one of the four moves, though the 2009 first-round draft choice won’t be available to the Rangers if, as expected, his top-ranked team advances to the NCAA Frozen Four that will be played in Tampa on April 5-7.

Erixon said before the game that he had gotten a much better grasp of how to play on the smaller North American rink throughout his tenure with the Whale.

“I had to make adjustments because it’s a different game to play,” he said. “I feel like I improved from the start of the year and kept improving when I went back after Christmas.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the weight room and have been learning a lot. I hope I can use all that here.”

Zuccarello expressed confidence that Erixon — the 23rd overall selection of the 2009 Entry Draft, whose rights were obtained by the Rangers from the Flames last June with a fifth-round pick in exchange for a pair of second-round picks and Roman Horak—would succeed in the NHL.

“He’s so smart with such good hockey sense,” said Zuccarello, who played 14:32 and was a staple on the first power play unit. “He takes what he learns and he uses that on the ice.

“He was in the gym every day. He wants to get stronger and he wants to get better. He’s gotten feistier and more aggressive in the corners.

“I think he’s going to be fine here.”

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Artem Anisimov was sidelined with a left shoulder injury he sustained late in Thursday’s second period while Henrik Lundqvist returned to nets after missing the previous two matches because of the flu.

The Brian Boyle-Brandon Prust-Ruslan Fedotenko unit got just four even-strength shifts after the first period, not counting their turn at 19:46 of the third after the Avalanche scored its empty netter. The line was on for Gabriel Landeskog’s winner at 9:51 of the second.

“They’re just getting scored on too much without giving us enough offense,” Tortorella said. “I think they’re going to come on but I have to make the call during the game with what I see.”

Tortorella praised the work of Brandon Dubinsky, who had three shots and played forcefully in 18:20 of ice.

“Dubi looked more confident with the puck and he hasn’t looked that way a lot this year,” the coach said. “He grinded and had the puck most of the night.”

Rangers will not skate today in advance of tomorrow night’s match at the Garden against the Devils, who have beaten the Blueshirts three of the last four times they’ve met, twice in regulation and once in a shootout.